Tag: serious fraud office

Serious Fraud Office to Investigate – Auckland Transport

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SFO to investigate previous “Conflict of Interest” claims

In 2013 it was revealed that there were issues relating to Auckland Transport’s roading unit (see: NOTICED AND NOT REALLY SURPRISED)

On Thursday and rather quietly given that we have just gone through the Easter Weekend, the Serious Fraud Office confirmed it would begin investigating Auckland Transport into the roading contract saga back in 2013.

From Radio NZ:

Auckland Transport charges laid

Updated at 9:32 am on 3 April 2015

Auckland Transport said the claims related to its road corridor maintenance business, which looks after more than 700 kilometres of roading in the region.

The Serious Fraud Office began its investigation, independent of Auckland Transport’s internal investigation, in October 2013.

Yesterday, it laid charges against an unspecified number of individuals linked to the council-controlled agency. No court dates have yet been set.

In a statement, Auckland Transport said a thorough review of processes and documentation was undertaken throughout 2012 and 2013.

It said it had since brought in more robust procurement processes and introduced new levels of contract oversight.

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Source: http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/regional/270311/auckland-transport-charges-laid

Something tells me this might be only the tip of the iceberg if a full investigation into Auckland Transport was to be done. That is turning everything right over upside down to make sure all is kosher in an organisation that can consume upwards of 54% of our Rates.

The Report on Judith Collins

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For your reading pleasure

 

For those inclined below is the report that has cleared the Honourable Judith Collins (she got her title back today) if meddling with the Serious Fraud Office. Judith is my Papakura Electorate MP as well.

Here is the report:

 

Note if I have embedded it via Scribd it means you can read the PDF straight without having to “download” into your Temp Folder to read it thus consuming bandwidth especially if on a mobile or tablet device. You might need the Scribd App prior first but it isn’t large and good to have on hand.

 

Noticed and Not Really Surprised

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Why-o-Why?

 

I have been watching the developments of this since it broke into the Main Stream Media recently. This being the Serious Fraud Office poised to investigate Auckland Transport after irregularities its consequences spill from AT to now the main Council.

The most recent piece from the NZ Herald:

Senior council workers in probe

By Bevan Hurley

A corruption inquiry at Auckland Transport has widened as a manager under suspicion has gone on sick leave.

The senior staff member is one of at least three Auckland Transport employees to have their computers seized as part of an internal inquiry into roading contracts.

The Serious Fraud Office is poised to step in. The usual $2-million threshold for an SFO inquiry would not be required due to the high public interest, a spokeswoman said.

 

Auckland Transport manager Murray Noone was fired last week after an internal investigation found “serious conflict-of-interest and performance issues”.

Noone was running a private consultancy business, Preside Consulting, while working for Auckland Transport.

 

Auckland Council member Wayne Walker said serious questions around contracts to large contractors had been raised. “The tendering process is increasingly shutting out the small and medium-size players,” he said.

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You can read the rest over at the Herald site.

 

My only comment to this mess over at Auckland Transport is this: “Why-o-why?” It does not make life easy for the small or medium fellows that is for sure. And the saying goes: Bigger is not always better.

 

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